KY State Rep. Pushes Bill to Curtail Reporters

By Kathy Avgerinos

Kentucky State Representative Jim Gooch is pushing a new legislation that would categorize editorial writers and cartoonist as lobbyists. Since lobbyists are not allowed in the House or Senate while lawmakers are in session, this law would effectively certain reporters from high-level government sessions. The New York Times reports that Gooch, who is chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee in Kentucky, drafted the bill after he was criticized in editorials and cartoons for claiming global warming is a hoax and making some other unpopular decisions. The Times reports that Gooch considers such comments to be harassment and an abuse of free press. The Kentucky Press Association, on the other hand, is fighting Gooch's bill, asserting that it is in violation to the First Amendment. Photo by Patti Longmire (c) 2007 Associated Press